Climbing wall with compressible layer

ABSTRACT

A climbing wall is provided. The climbing wall includes a board and a compressible layer. The board is substantially flat and is formed of a rigid material, such as wood, metal, a hard plastic, or the like. The compressible layer is secured to cover a front surface of the board. The compressible layer includes an elasticity greater than the rigid material and compresses when pressure is applied. A plurality of knobs are secured to the board so that the compressible layer is disposed in between the knobs and the board.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 62/006,984, filed Jun. 3, 2014, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a climbing wall and, more particularly, to a climbing wall with a compressible layer.

A climbing wall is an artificially constructed wall with grips for hands and feet, usually used for indoor climbing, but sometimes located outdoors. Some are brick or wooden constructions, but on most modern walls, the material most often used is a thick multiplex board with holes drilled into it. Climbing walls currently have a rough surface to prevent the climbing holds from spinning. This causes users to scratch their knees and hands. The climbing walls are also constructed of a hard surface increasing the potential for injury.

As can be seen, there is a need for an improved climbing wall designed to prevent injury.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a climbing wall comprises: a board substantially flat and formed of a rigid material; a compressible layer secured to cover a front surface of the board, wherein the compressible layer comprises an elasticity greater than the rigid material; and a plurality of knobs secured to the board so that the compressible layer is disposed in between the plurality of knobs and the board.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cutaway front perspective view of the present invention along line 3-3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cutaway back perspective view of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a front perspective exploded view of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a rear perspective exploded view of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a section detail view of the present invention along line 7-7 in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 8 is a section detail view of the present invention along line 8-8 in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

The present invention includes a climbing wall panel with a foam rubber cloth cover. The climbing wall of the present invention includes a soft layer of durable foam rubber material over plywood, which reduces cuts, bumps, and bruises to the climber. Also, the soft surface allows the climbing holds to sink into the material holding them in place so they do not spin or loosen. Further, the board does not get damaged when you move the hand holds from one place to the next.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 8, the present invention includes a climbing wall 10. The climbing wall 10 includes a board 16 and a compressible layer 12. The board 16 is substantially flat and is formed of a rigid material, such as wood, metal, hard plastic, or the like. The compressible layer 12 is secured to cover a front surface of the board 16. The compressible layer 12 includes elasticity greater than the rigid material and compresses when pressure is applied. A plurality of knobs 20 are secured to the board 16 so that the compressible layer 12 is disposed in between the knobs 20 and the board 16.

As mentioned above, the compressible layer 12 compresses when pressure is applied and thereby prevents injury. The compressible layer 12 may be formed of a foam material, a rubber material, or a combination thereof. The compressible layer 12 may further include an outer cloth layer. The compressible layer 12 may be glued to front surface of the board 16. In certain embodiments, the compressible layer 12 may wrap around the edge of the board 16 and may be secured to the back surface of the board 16 by a fastener such as a plurality of staples 14, bolts, adhesives, clamps and the like.

The plurality of knobs 20 of the present invention may be a simulated rock fixture for user's to grasp and climb the climbing wall 10. The knobs 20 may be secured to the board 16 by a tee nut 18 and a socket screw 22. The tee nut 18 may include a flange and a protruding peg with a female threaded receiver. The flange is secured to the back side of the board 16 by fastening screws 24 and the peg may fit within an aperture formed through the board 16. The socket screw 22 runs through aligning apertures formed in the knob 20 and the compressible layer 12 and is secured within the female threaded receiver, thereby securing the knob 20 to the board 16. A washer 26 may be disposed in between the socket screw 22 and the knob 20.

A method of making the present invention may include the following. The board, such as plywood, is prepared for the climbing wall by drilling holes through it and routing the edges to make them round. Tee nuts are inserted into the holes on the back of the plywood and attached with screws. Then a foam rubber cloth backed material is attached to the front of the plywood using a glue adhesive, wrapped around the edges of the plywood and stapled to the back of the plywood. The final step is to attach the knobs or climbing holds to the wall using bolts that screw into the tee nuts.

The foam backed cloth material adds a durable cushion to the plywood and is non-abrasive. This prevents climbers from getting scratches on their hands, fingers, knuckles, legs, and knees. Because the foam backed cloth has some flexibility to it, it allows the climbing holds to depress into the material when attached which prevents the climbing holds from spinning and does not damage the wall or foam backed material when over tightened.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A climbing wall comprising: a board substantially flat and formed of a rigid material; a compressible layer secured to cover a front surface of the board, wherein the compressible layer comprises an elasticity greater than the rigid material; and a plurality of knobs secured to the board so that the compressible layer is disposed in between the plurality of knobs and the board.
 2. The climbing wall of claim 1, wherein the plurality of knobs are each a simulated rock fixture.
 3. The climbing wall of claim 1, wherein the compressible layer is formed of a foam material.
 4. The climbing wall of claim 1, wherein the compressible layer is formed of a rubber material.
 5. The climbing wall of claim 1, wherein the compressible layer comprises an outer cloth layer.
 6. The climbing wall of claim 1, wherein the plurality of knobs are each secured to the board by a tee nut comprising a female receiver, and a screw securable within the female threaded receiver.
 7. The climbing wall of claim 6, wherein the tee nut comprises a flange and a protruding peg comprising the female threaded receiver, wherein the protruding peg fits through an aperture formed through the board and the flange rests against a back surface of the board, wherein the screw runs through aligning apertures formed in a knob and the compressible layer and is secured within the female receiver, thereby securing the knob to the board.
 8. The climbing wall of claim 1, wherein the compressible layer is wrapped around an edge of the board and secured to a back surface of the board. 